Current Affairs 22-August-2023 (The Hindu)

Landslide and Landslip Information

Landslide and Landslip

Landslide

  • Landslide - mass movement of rock, soil, or debris down a slope.
  • Data - landslide causes around 25,000 deaths each year and billions of dollars in damage.

Landslip

  • Landslip - a type of landslide that involves slow, continuous movement of soil and rock down a slope.
    Main Differences
    • Landslip: Slow, continuous movement of materials down a slope.
    • Landslide: Sudden, rapid movement.

Causes

  • Heavy rainfall
  • Snowmelt
  • Earthquakes
  • Volcanic activity
  • Human activities

Effects

  • Economic damage:
    • Destroy businesses, disrupt transportation, and damage infrastructure.
  • Infrastructure damage:
    • Damage to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.
    • Block roads, railways, and other transportation routes.
  • Environmental damage:
    • Pollute waterways, damage ecosystems, and displace wildlife of the particular region.

 

Malabar Exercise Information

Malabar Exercise

  • Annual naval exercise.
  • Parties: US, India, Japan, and Australia.
  • 1992 - Started as a bilateral exercise between India and the United States.
  • 2015 - Japan joined.
  • 2020 - Australia joined.

Venue of the Exercise

  • In the Indian Ocean or in the Pacific Ocean.
  • 2023 version - For the first time, Australia hosted the exercise.
  • Exercise - Held annually.

Significance

  • Security and stability in the region:
    • Deterrence to China’s aggressive behavior in the region.
  • Improve interoperability:
    • Help the navies to work together more effectively during crises.
  • Build trust and confidence:
    • Sharing of information and best practices.
    • Development of common operating procedures.
  • Symbol of the growing cooperation between the four countries.
  • Helps to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Maintains the balance of power & enhances mutual understanding.

 

BRICS Information

BRICS

  • Acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
  • "BRIC" term coined by British Economist Jim O’neil in 2001.
  • 2006 - Formalized during the 1st meeting of BRIC foreign Ministers.
  • 2009 - 1st BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
  • 24 December, 2010 - South Africa was invited to join the forum.

Potential of BRICS

  • 41% of the global population.
  • 16% of global trade.
  • 31.5% of global GDP.
  • Expectation - 50% of global GDP by 2030.

Chairmanship

  • Rotated annually among the members - in accordance with acronym B-R-I-C-S.
  • Objective - to promote peace, security, development, and cooperation.
  • To contribute to the development of humanity + establishing a more equitable and fairer world.

Importance of BRICS to India

  • Economic opportunities - access to a huge market of emerging economies.
  • Diplomatic platform - to engage with other major global players.
  • Benefit from technology and exchanges with fellow member countries.
  • A platform to advocate for reforms in global financial institutions and to enhance its voice in global decision-making.

India’s contribution to BRICS

  • Proposal of New Development Bank:
    • Proposed in 2012 - 4th Summit, New Delhi.
    • July 2014 - Agreement for setting up the bank was signed.
    • Purpose - to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging markets and developing countries.
    • Headquarters - Shanghai.
    • Regional office in South Africa.
    • First President - from India.
  • India added the Urbanization Forum to BRICS cooperation mechanisms:
    • Aim - to enhance intra-BRICS cooperation and to learn from each other’s experience in tackling challenges of rapid urbanization.
  • Initiatives proposed at 6th BRICS Summit in July 2014:
    • Online education, an affordable health care platform, a virtual BRICS university, BRICS language schools, cooperation in small and medium enterprises, tourism, youth exchanges, a Young Scientists Forum, and disaster management.

Challenges before BRICS

  • BRICS nations have diverse economic, political, and strategic interests - challenges in arriving at consensus on certain issues.
  • Economic disparities between BRICS nations - impact the group's ability to formulate unified economic strategies.
  • BRICS operates in a world dominated by established powers - challenges in achieving desired reforms.

Way Forward

  • Deepening of cooperation in trade, technology, innovation, and sustainable development.
  • Prioritizing the common goals of BRICS nations - financial reform, climate promotion, and a multipolar world.
  • Strengthening people-to-people ties by strengthening cultural and academic exchanges.
  • BRICS should stay flexible and open - to address evolving global dynamics.

 

ASEAN Information

ASEAN

  • Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
  • Regional intergovernmental organization.
  • Established on 8th August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.
  • Establishment document: Bangkok Declaration.
  • Secretariat: Jakarta.

Chairmanship

  • Rotates annually in alphabetical order.
  • 2023 Chairmanship: Indonesia.

ASEAN Summit

  • Held twice annually.
  • Highest policy-making body.
  • Composition: Head of States or Government of the Member States.
  • Host: Member State holding Chairmanship.

Aims and Purposes

  • To promote economic and security cooperation.
  • To promote regional peace and stability through respect for justice and the rule of law.
  • To accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development based on equality and partnership.
  • To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in various fields including economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific, and administrative.
  • To provide assistance to each other in terms of training and research facilities.

Post a Comment

0 Comments